Another low turnout by Republican candidates at an election forum last week again denied South Jeffco voters the chance to hear political rivals contrast their views at the same venue.

So far this campaign season, face-to-face meetings have been few in two key South Jeffco races for the state legislature: Republican Justin Everett versus Democrat Mary Parker in House District 22, and Democrat Andy Kerr versus Republican Ken Summers in Senate District 25.

The two candidates vying to represent South Jeffco in Congress met at a nonpartisan candidate forum sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women on Oct. 9.

Incumbent Diana DeGette was first elected in the heavily Democratic 1st District in 1996 and has won re-election every other year since. But with congressional redistricting last year, DeGette’s territory now includes the decidedly less liberal areas of South Jeffco.

A face-off between Democrat Lorna Idol and Republican Cheri Gerou, two candidates in state House District 25, inadvertently turned out to be the featured event at the League of Women Voters’ candidates forum on Oct. 11 at St. Philip Lutheran Church in Columbine Hills.

Mary Parker, a Democrat, also made her case to be the state representative from House District 22, which covers most of the unincorporated South Jeffco/Columbine area. However, Parker’s chief opponent, Republican Justin Everett, was at a family wedding.

State and Jeffco candidates expressed widely varying views about spending for schools and health care during a forum at the Evergreen Lake House on Oct. 4 sponsored by Evergreen Newspapers.

Lorna Idol, the Democratic challenger in state House District 25, emphasized the need for additional funds for schools in Colorado, which she said is in the bottom tier nationally for educational spending.

“I believe we need to spend more on education through property taxes,” said Idol, a retired education professional.

Colorado residents flocked to Arapahoe Community College on Saturday, Sept. 29, to pick up a treasure map to 14 destinations teeming with information about green-housing upgrades.

The Sustainable Living Tour, hosted by the Colorado Renewable Energy Society, showcased vendors and houses dedicated to renewable-energy practices. The vendors offered seminars on design, financing and other aspects of renewable-energy upgrades.